TOKYO, July 23 Kyodo Mongolian Fo...

TOKYO, July 23 Kyodo

Mongolian Foreign Minister Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi agreed Tuesday to continue to boost economic and cultural ties, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Erdenechuluun asked Japan to continue economic support for Mongolia.

on the other hand Kawaguchi asked for the Mongolian minister's understanding that Japan's protracted economic sink has not allowed it to put forward as much official progressive growth assistance as before, the official said.

The official said Japan has agreed to provide 411 Japanese TV programs worth 45 million yen principally of them documentaries and educational programs, to Mongolia's state-run broadcast station.

Kawaguchi also tendered congratulations on Mongolian sumo wrestler Asashoryu's winning promotion to ozeki, the first Mongolian and fourth non-Japanese grapler to attain sumo's second-highest rank.

Sekiwake Asashoryu finished the just-ended Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament with a 12-3 record. The Japan Sumo Association will decide forward Asashoryu's promotion of ozeki Wednesday.

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